Bed sheet and the like



y 2, 1933. c. B. TOOLEY 1490?,393

BED SHEET ANDATHE LIKE Filed Dec. 8, 1932 Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE CLINTON B. TOOLEY, OF WENI-IAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO NAUMKEAG STEAM COTTON COMPANY, OF SALEM, MSSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHU- SETTS BED SHEET AND THE LIKE Application filed December 8, 1932. Serial No. 646,350.

This invention relates to household linen, particularly bed linen such as sheets and similar articles, which are commonly folded and store-d in piles on shelves in dark closets or drawers until needed on the beds. and alms to provide ready means for ldentlfication of different sizes and kinds of artlcles plled together under such conditions.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a strong and durable but inexpensive form of tab or label extending beyond the marginal edges of the sheet or article so as to form a ready means of identificatlon whlch is permanently secured to the sheet or artlcle so as not to interfere with its appearancepr utility, and to provide the tab or label with indicia of washable, non-fading character corresponding to the size, kind'and purpose of the article.

The invention is conveniently exemplified as applied to sheets, but it is to be understood that the following description of a preferred embodiment, as shown in detail in the accompanying drawing, is illustrative only; and what the invention comprises is indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like parts in the several views,

Fig. 1 is a view looking down on the corner of a sheet, showing an identification tab secured at the end of a narrow hem by the closing seam;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, drawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a face view of the Woven strip from which the tab is made showing the lines of cutting and folding;

Fig. 4 is a view of the under side of a corner of a sheet having a tab of the type shown, part of the sheet being removed to expose the tab: and

Fig. 5 is a top View in perspective of a corner of a pile of sheets showing the tabs as they are exposed to sight under normal conditions of storage.

The sheet shown in the drawing is of the usual type, having a wide hem at the head and a narrow hem at the foot, only a corner portion of the latter being shown as essential to an understanding of the invention. Ordinarily the hem is made by folding back a suitable width of material 10, turning its edge 11 under, and sewing down the turned under edge by means of a line of stitches 12 extending all the way across the width of the sheet. The ends of the hem thus produced may be closed by short lines of stitching 13, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2-, one of these lines of stitching also serving to secure the identification tab 14 in place in one end of the hem and projecting therefrom to expose its greater portion to view.

The identification tab 14 may advantageously be made of woven material in strip form, doubled for greater strength and better appearance, the identifying indicia 15, 16

being preferably woven into the goods in colored thread, as by a Jacquard loom. Such woven material may be had in various fast colors that will stand washing with household and laundry soaps and appliances. A specimen strip 17, is shown in Fig. 3, wherein the lines of cut 18 between successive tabs, and lines of fold 19 of each tab, are clearly indicated. The severed strip is folded to expose the indicia 15, 16, on each side adjacent to the fold, the cut ends being inserted into end of the hem and secured by the closing stitching 13, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

The location of the identification tab 14 to project from the corner of the sheet is important, as it is readily visible when the sheet is folded and placed in a pile, and is inconspicuous when the sheet is on the bed, usually being tucked under the foot end of the mattress. Incidentally, this location is advantageous from the standpoint of the laundress, as it is likely to be either the first or the last part of the sheet to be passed through the wringer and mangle, and in either case it is less apt to be caught in some part of the machine and the sheet torn than if it were located in the middle of a side or end.

In the assortment of sheets depicted in Fig. 5, the sheet widths and bed sizes are displayed on opposite sides of the'tabs 14 in colors indicative of each size. To illustrate,

the cot bed sheet 21 on the top of the pile is 54 inches wide and the tab 14 is marked in black on one side Cot bed and on the other side Width 54, together with the name or trade-mark of the maker, the single bed sheet 22 next beneath the sheet 21 has its tab marked in red Single bed on one side and Width 63 on the other with name on the other. Obviously, other markings and colors suitable to the size and use of the sheet or other article may be adopted as desired. For example,if the lengths vary,

the appropriate designation of length may be associated with the width designation if desired, as illustrated in Fig. 4, where the length is shown as 2 yards.

The invention has the advantage of afi'ording three ways of identifying different sizes or kinds of sheets and similar articles, namelyfrom the top side by name. from the bottom side by the principal dimensions, and from either side by color, and the location of the tabs each in a corner of the article to -which it applies and facing outwards makes them easily located and read regardless of thesize of the articles if the latter are properly folded and piled.

The two-ply construction of the tab and its manner of securing to the end of a hem by the closing seam give it necessary strength and serviceability at comparatively low cost for the tab and for installing it, without materially increasing the danger of tearing the seam or thecloth adjacent thereto because of its presence. i

' Having described a preferred form of the invention for purposes of illustration, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patcm: is as follows:

1. A bed sheet or like textile fabric article customarily made in different sizes having a hemat one end provided with a washable fabric tab partially overlapping an end of said hem and stitched thereto to project beyond the edge of said sheet sufficiently to present a space for displaying identifying insignia, said projecting portion being doubled under and having its end stitched to the end of said hem.

2. A bed sheet orlike textile fabric article customarily made in different sizes having a narrow hem at one end and provided with a tab secured at an end of said hem to project beyond the edge of said sheet sufficiently to present a space for displaying identifying insignia, said tab consisting of a doubled strip of flexible material having its abutting ends concealed in said hem.

3. A bed sheet or like textile fabric article customarily made in different sizes having a hem atone end provided with a tab partially overlapping an end of said hem and stitched thereto to project beyond the edge of said sheet sufficiently to present a space for displaying identifying insignia, said tab consisting of. a strip of woven material having the indicia woven therein using thread of a fast distinctive color, and said projecting portion being doubled under and having its end stitched to the end of said hem.

4. A bed sheet or like textile fabric article customarily made in different sizes having a narrow hem at one end and provided with atab secured at an end of said hem to project beyond the edges of said sheet sufiiciently to present a space for displaying identifying insignia, said tab consisting of a doubled strip of woven material having the in-. dicia woven therein using thread of a fast distinctive color and having its' abutting ends concealed in said hem.

5. A bed sheet or like textile fabric article customarily made in different sizes having a hem sewed along one edge thereof and a fabric label with one end projecting from the side edge of the article at one end of said hem and its opposite end inserted within the folds of the hem and permanently secured to said article by sewing through said hem, said label bearing indicia indicating the size and character of said article.

6. A bed sheet or like textile fabric article customarily made in different sizes having a hem sewed along one edge thereof, and a fabric tabhaving one end inserted within an end of said hem and permanently secured thereto, the major portion of said tab projecting beyond the marginal edge of said sheet and affording a prominent field for identifying indicia when said article is folded.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CLINTON B. TOOLEY. 

